Decisions on three fish species

The rock lobster catch in the fishery area between
Auckland and East Cape will be more than halved in an effort
to rebuild the seriously depleted stock.

Fisheries
Minister Stuart Nash has reviewed the total allowable catch
(TAC) for three species across seven areas, for the fishing
year starting 1 April. The decisions follow public
consultation on sustainability measures for rock lobster,
sea cucumber, and southern blue whiting.

Mr Nash
has reduced the rock lobster TAC in the Hauraki Gulf/Bay of
Plenty area known as CRA2 and the Otago area known as CRA7.
He has increased the rock lobster TAC in the
Wellington/Hawke’s Bay area known as CRA4 and the Southern
area CRA8.

The TAC for two sea cucumber stocks off
the east coast of the South Island and Challenger
Plateau/Nelson will be increased, along with the TAC for
southern blue whiting on the Bounty Platform to the south of
New Zealand.

Mr Nash says the rock lobster fishery
in the CRA2 area, which stretches from Auckland to East
Cape, is seriously depleted. “Decisive action is needed to
rebuild the crayfish stock,” Mr Nash says.

The
current TAC of 416.5 tonnes will be reduced to 173 tonnes.
Commercial and recreational crayfish allowances will be
reduced as a result. The total allowable commercial catch
(TACC) will be reduced from 200 tonnes to 80 tonnes; the
recreational allowance from 140 tonnes to 34 tonnes; and the
estimate for ‘other mortality’, such as theft and
blackmarket activity, is also revised downwards, from 60 to
42.5 tonnes.

The customary allowance of 16.5 tonnes
is unchanged and was not part of the review. However in 2017
the customary catch was estimated to be well within the
allowance.

“The decisions are the first step in
rebuilding the fishery. Further steps will be developed and
implemented this year, including changes to the current
recreational bag limit of six crayfish per person per day
prior to October 2018,” Mr Nash says.

“I have
also asked MPI to ensure Fisheries Compliance staff have an
increased focus on the CRA2 fishery to help minimise illegal
take. Although the current estimate of illegal removals is
highly uncertain, given the status of the fishery and the
reductions in harvest levels to legitimate users, I do not
want to see benefits of any rebuild going to those who are
stealing from this fishery.

“When the stock has
been rebuilt to a healthier level, we can reassess how best
to share the fishery amongst iwi, recreational and
commercial fishing interests.

“During
consultation, a number of submissions called for the fishery
to be closed to reflect its poor current status and allow
the fastest period of rebuild. Closure of a fishery is a
very significant step. Fisheries have been closed in the
past. While there is no doubt the CRA2 stock is well below
desired levels, the best available information suggests that
it can increase by an amount and over a timeframe I consider
reasonable.

“I will continue to monitor this
fishery closely and if the number of crayfish does not
improve sufficiently I may have to consider further measures
at the next review,” Mr Nash says.

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